A BURNLEY actor is to make his professional theatre debut in a new play by a Coronation Street scriptwriter.

Jack Hartley will appear in The Ockerbys on Ice by Debbie Oates at Lancaster’s Dukes theatre this autumn.

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The play centres on Viv and Dennis Ockerby, an ordinary couple looking forward to retirement when Dennis is hit by a devastating diagnosis.

But thanks to cryonic freezing, they win a shot at immortality. Jack, 22, plays their son, Michael.

Jack’s interest in acting was sparked while a student at Towneley High School and Unity College in Burnley.

He said: “An actress called Ursula Holden Gill came in to lead a workshop which made me see a new side of acting.

“I learned monologues and performed pieces that were realistic and completely different to anything I’d done, the seed was planted there and one thing led to another.”

While at school, Jack received a London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art(LAMDA) gold medal and also completed a summer course at the National Youth Theatre.

Since then he has been working professionally on television and film sets.

His recent work includes appearances in Holby City, Scott & Bailey and Coronation Street along with appearing as a regular cast member in three series of Rocket’s Island on CBBC.

Jack also plays completely contrasting characters in two short award winning films that are currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit: Throw Me to the Dogs and The Truants both directed by Blackburn’s Aaron Dunleavy, who Jack is collaborating with again for their debut feature film.

Cllr Andrew Tatchell, who sits on Burnley Council, said: “It’s nice to see people from Burnley going on in life and having success whatever path they take.

“There’s a lot of good work going on in schools regarding performing arts in Burnley and there is also a lot of stuff at Burnley Youth Theatre.

“I’m not surprised to see people becoming prominent in the acting world, we’ve had a few notable successes, and it’s nice to see the next generation coming along.”

To see Jack’s professional stage debut, The Ockerbys on Ice runs in Lancaster until October 22 and is recommended for anyone aged 12 plus. To book ring The Dukes Box Office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org.